Money in American Politics

Editor Schultz (Univ. of Minnesota Law Sch.; political science, Hamline Univ.) addresses the central role of money in U.S. politics. In the preface, he writes that many see money as a corrupting tool of leverage by special interests while others perceive it as a form of free speech in need of constitutional protection. This book debates those divergent perspectives and provides answers to two core questions: Does money influence the legislative process? Are the United States' patterns of wealth distribution beneficial for the nation's democracy? With contributors who include academics, attorneys, researchers, and students of law, political science, and public administration and policy, the work consists of a chronology, general index, and 155 entries. The articles on Federal Contribution Limits, Political Action Committees, and State Legislative Races also contain figures and tables. The primary focus is on court cases, individuals, groups, organizations, and events since the 1972 presidential election and the Watergate break-in. According to Schultz, that is when campaign donations, legislation, and litigation began shaping the effect of money.

VERDICT General readers will find this a fair-minded, clear, and informative foundation for examining the influence of money on the legislative process.—Rob Tench, Old Dominion Univ. Libs., Norfolk, VA